On Friday evening, the Mohammed V Theatre in Rabat hosted a celebratory artistic event entitled “The Voice of the Sand,” organized by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Green March, in a national atmosphere full of pride and belonging.

The ceremony began with the performance of the national anthem, followed by recitations that recalled the memories of the Green March, and then choreographic and musical dance performances presented by Moroccan artists who blended authenticity and innovation in embodying an immortal national epic.

The ceremony included a screening of the winning short films from the fifth edition of the Green March Competition. Mohamed Nadir won the Best Talent Award for his film"A Moroccan Tale," while the Special Jury Prize was awarded to director Yassine Laghnefer for his film "Sin Igarsen." The Grand Prize of the edition went to Ibrahim Khalil Benjaber for his film "The Journey of the Ancestors."

This artistic event was attended by ministers, political figures, and representatives of several diplomatic bodies, including Mohamed El Mahdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Latifa Akharbach, President of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), Fatiha El Moudni, President of the Rabat City Council, and Amal El Fellah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, along with figures from the diplomatic, artistic and cultural corps.

In this context, Mohamed Benhssain, director of the Mohammed V Theatre, said that the Moroccan people, from Tangier to Lagouira, are celebrating a dear and precious memory for all Moroccans, which is the memory of the recovery of the Saharan provinces.

Benhssain added, in a statement to Hespress, that this year has a special character, as it coincides with the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Green March, which has become a symbol of national unity and an epic of regaining land and dignity.

The same speaker emphasized that this occasion has a “special flavor this year because it coincides with a new phase that confirms, without the slightest debate, the Moroccan identity of our southern provinces.”

The director of the Mohammed V Theatre added that the world today recognizes the legitimacy of the Moroccan position and the justice of its cause after the recent supportive stances from various countries and international organizations.

Benhssain pointed out that there is overwhelming joy in all Moroccan cities, as the Kingdom is witnessing continuous celebrations of this glorious national occasion, adding that the institution he manages is keen, as usual, to contribute to commemorating this occasion with artistic and cultural performances that reflect the spirit of the march and its eternal meanings.

The director of the Mohammed V Theatre also noted that Morocco is sharing its joy this year with a number of friendly and sister countries, including the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Republic of Iraq, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as European, Asian, and Latin American countries that have recently expressed their full support for the Moroccan Sahara and their recognition that it is land that has returned to its rightful owners.

For his part, Tariq Rabah, the theatrical researcher and scenographer of the event, said that “The Voice of the Sand” is a special artistic event, organized by the Ministry to celebrate this great achievement and to dedicate itself to the Moroccan identity of the Saharan regions.

Rabah added, in a statement to Hespress, that the ceremony was distinguished by the richness of its segments, as it combined music, theater, cinema and dance, in addition to moments of honoring and awarding prizes; which made it a comprehensive event that combines creativity and national symbolism.

The theatrical researcher, who supervised the scenography of the “Voice of the Sand” concert, added that this artistic event represents an occasion to celebrate an important national anniversary, especially since this year carries the symbolism of half a century since the Green March and the important victories and progress achieved during it at various levels.

The “Voice of the Sand” concert was a truly national artistic evening, reflecting the deep sense of belonging and the spirit of unity that characterizes the Moroccan people, in a moment of celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of one of the greatest epics in the history of the nation.